Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program

The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), under the leadership of President Toni Preckwinkle, has sought to build capacity as a resource to first responders as well as local jurisdictions, with respect to both administrative and operational issues. One area where we have sought to add value is in identifying potential grant opportunities for our various partners.

With respect to the above, the DHSEM, as a grantor of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds, is making 2017 JAG funds available for competitive application and award to eligible applicants. The total grant funds available for federal fiscal year 2017 is $376,582.00.

The JAG Program provides states and units of local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education programs, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, crime victim and witness initiatives, and planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.

Program-Specific Information

The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is putting more emphasis on evidence-based projects and programs to address issues of community engagement, law enforcement education, and help for children/youth and families dealing with or encountering municipal law enforcement agencies. We are looking for programs that help young victims of crime through peer counseling and intensive case management, especially teaching peers about the effects of crime and about crime prevention in their community. We are also looking for programs that teach younger children about gangs, drug prevention, and other important safety skills. Another area of interest is community-based programs that provide reentry services to justice-involved populations. Our goal is to help you implement a successful crime prevention or educational program to create safe and thriving communities within Cook County. DHSEM wants to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors to your community by reducing the threat of criminal activity related to substance abuse and street gang activity.

JAG funds may be used for state and local initiatives, and may specifically be spent on the following categories: technical assistance, strategic planning, research and evaluation (including forensics), data collection, training, personnel, equipment, forensic laboratories, supplies, contractual support, and criminal justice information systems. The goal is to improve or enhance such areas as:

• Law enforcement programs

• Prosecution and court programs

• Prevention and education programs

• Corrections and community corrections programs

• Drug treatment and enforcement programs

• Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs

• Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation)

JAG funds may not be expended outside of the JAG purpose areas. Even within the purpose areas, however, JAG funds may not be used directly or indirectly for security enhancements or equipment to nongovernmental entities not engaged in criminal justice or public safety. Additionally, JAG funds may not be used directly or indirectly to provide for any of the following matters unless Bureau of Justice Assistance certifies, in advance, that extraordinary and exigent circumstances exist, making them essential to the maintenance of public safety and good order: vehicles (excluding police cruisers); vessels (excluding police boats); aircraft (excluding police helicopters); Unmanned Aircraft, Aircraft Systems, or Aerial Vehicles (UA/UAS/UAV); luxury items; real estate; construction projects (other than penal or correctional institutions); and any similar matters.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are local law enforcement agencies and non-profit entities within Cook County who identify initiatives which meet one or more JAG purpose areas.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit a budget and budget narrative outlining to the DHSEM which outlines how JAG funds, including administrative funds if applicable, will be used to support and implement the proposed program. All application materials can be downloaded from the Cook County DHSEM website: http://www.cookcountyhomelandsecurity.org/. Applications must include the name of your jurisdiction or organization and the grant for which your organization is applying (e.g. Cook County DHSEM_JAG application), and will only be accepted if complete and in the proper format (i.e. the application template). Only one application per entity per grant will be accepted.

Application Review Information

Potential recipients of JAG awards must submit a complete application which includes a budget and narrative specifically outlining their project request and timeline for completion. The application template is provided with this announcement. All applications must be submitted using this application template. As this is a competitive program, awards (if any) and funding levels will be subject to the number of applicants and scope of project requests. As projects may be funded in whole or in part, submitted project budgets should be detailed and specific. Submission of an application does not guarantee award. The period of performance for awards will be twelve months.

Application Screening Criteria

You should use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application, as the screening criteria will be part of the data used by DHSEM to evaluate each specific application. If your application does not meet all of the screening criteria, it will not move forward through the peer review process.

Goal Statement

Statement of the Problem

Programs and Activities

Target Area

Target Group

Type of Service

Implementation Schedule

Performance Metrics

Additional Funding Source

Technical Assistance

Budget Justification

Budget Detail Worksheet

All proposed project costs must be necessary and reasonable and in accordance with Federal guidelines. Determinations of allowable costs will be made in accordance with the Cost Principles, now found in the Office of Management and Budget’s Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform 18 Guidance), codified at 2 CFR Part 200 and at 2 CFR Part 2900 (Uniform Guidance-DOL specific). Disallowed costs are those charges to a grant that the grantor agency or its representative determines not to be allowed in accordance with the Cost Principles or other conditions contained in the grant. Grant award recipients will be required to reimburse any disallowed costs. Applicants, whether successful or not, will not be entitled to reimbursement of pre-award cost.

Indirect Cost

Indirect costs or expenses that are not directly traceable to a department, a product, or an activity are not allowable as a grantee of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds

Award Administration Information

Successful applicants will enter into a sub-grant agreement with the DHSEM in order to receive funding.

The application deadline is 5:00 PM CST, Thursday, February 28, 2019, and all applications must be submitted via email to steven.burris@cookcountyil.gov. Funding announcements will be made no later than May 15, 2019.